Depth charts are meant to do exactly what they say -- show how deep a team is. Depth hasn't been a luxury for the Penn State wrestling team over recent years.

With the nation's sixth-best recruiting class this year, however, the Nittany Lions are deep on paper at almost every weight class. And they now hope that depth can become a strength instead of an Achilles heel.

The most intriguing area where the freshman will have an effect is at 165 pounds. A weak spot in recent years, the Lions have no clear favorite for that top spot. Freshman David Erwin is currently penciled in to be the starter, but with five guys competing a lot of things can change -- especially between now and Sunday's Wrestle Offs.

One area where Penn State's depth comes into play for completely different reasons is at the 184 and 149-pound weight classes, where the two incumbent starters, Eric Bradley and James Woodall, have a history of serious injuries. Both are returning for their sixth year of eligibility, and Bradley is ranked No. 1 in the nation at 184 and James Woodall is No. 16 at 149.

Bradley, a two-time defending Big Ten Champion, received the extra eligibility after he lost two seasons because of a medical redshirt and disqualification -- both were the result of a fractured vertebra in his back. Woodall, on the other hand, is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament during a match last year.

"I thought I was ready to go right then," Woodall said, referring to the time before the injury. "The key is to look ahead and not think about the past."

The Lions' heavyweight class is probably the most interesting area of the team. Returning starter Joel Edwards jumped up in class midway through last season and had a solid 24-16 season. But Edwards, who is ranked No. 11, isn't your typical heavyweight, as at 240 pounds he's the heaviest he's ever been, though that is still about 10-20 pounds undersized for the heavyweight class.

"I feel I can compete with anyone," Edwards said. "[There are] guys in the Big Ten that are all ranked in the top 10, but I feel I can compete with them."

In contrast to the 149, 184 and 197-weight classes, the heavyweight class is one of the categories in which the freshmen aren't adding critical depth. Edwards' main challengers are junior C.J. Wonsettler and sophomore Aaron Anspach. Anspach is the one most likely to compete with Edwards, but the sophomore is coming off a shoulder injury and lacks the experience of Edwards.

With this class and the next recruiting class, Penn State seems poised to have the kind of depth it has been hoping for.